Chapter XVII.

St. Ambrose shows by instances that the places in which those words were spoken help to the understanding of the words of the Lord; he shows that Christ uttered the passage quoted from St. John in Solomon’s porch, by which is signified the mind of a wise man, for he says that Christ would not have uttered this saying in the heart of a foolish or contentious man. He goes on to say that Christ is stoned by those who believe not these words, and as the keys of heaven were given to Peter for his confession of them, so Iscariot, because he believed not the same, perished evilly. He takes this opportunity to inveigh against the Jews who bought the Son of God and sold Joseph. He explains the price paid for each mystically; and having in the same manner expounded the murmuring of the traitor concerning Magdalene’s ointment, he adds that Christ is bought in one way by heretics in another way by Catholics, and that those in vain take to themselves the name of Christians who sever the Spirit from the Father.

118. It is worth while to notice in what place the Lord held this discussion, for His utterances are often [better] estimated by the kind of places in which He conversed. When about to fast, He is led (as we read) into the wilderness to render vain the devil’s temptations. For although it deserves praise to have lived temperately in the midst of abundance, yet the enticements of temptation are more frequent amongst riches and pleasures. Then the tempter, in order to try Him, promises Him abundance, and the Lord in order to overcome cherishes hunger. Now I do not deny that temperance can exist in the midst of riches; but although he who navigates the sea often escapes, yet he is more exposed to peril than he who will not go to sea.

119. Let us consider some other points. When about to promise the kingdom of heaven, Jesus went up into a mountain. At another time He leads His disciples through the corn-fields, when about to sow in their minds the crop of heavenly precepts, so that a plentiful harvest of souls should ripen. When about to consummate the work of the flesh which He had taken, having now seen perfection in His disciples, whom He had established upon the root of His words, He enters a garden, that He might plant the young olive-trees600    Ps. cxxviii. [cxxvii.] 3. in the house of the Lord, and that He might water the just flourishing like a palm-tree,601    Ps. xcii. [xci.] 12. and the fruitful vine with the stream of His Blood.

120. In this passage too He was walking, as we read, in Solomon’s porch on the day of the dedication, that is, Christ was walking in the breast of the wise and prudent, to dedicate his good affection to Himself. What that porch was the prophet teaches, saying: “I will walk in the midst of Thy house in the innocency of my heart.”602    Ps. ci. [c.] 2. So, then, we have in our own selves the house of God, we have the halls, we have also the porches, and we have the courts, for it is written: “Let thy waters flow abroad in thy courts.”603    Prov. v. 16. Open, then, this porch of thy heart to the Word of God, Who says to thee: “Open thy mouth wide and I will fill it.”604    Ps. lxxxi. [lxxx.] 10.

121. Let us, therefore, hear what the Word of God, walking in the heart of the wise and peaceful, says: “I and My Father are One.”605    S. John x. 30. He will not say this in the breast of the unquiet and foolish, for “the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness unto him.”606    2 Cor. ii. 14. The narrow breasts of sinners do not take in the greatness of the faith. Lastly, the Jews hearing, “I and the Father are One, took up stones to stone Him.”607    S. John x. 31.

122. He who cannot listen to this is a Jew; he who cannot listen to this stones Christ with the stones of his treachery, rougher than any rock, and if you believe me, he wounds Christ. For although He cannot now feel a wound: “For now henceforth we know not Christ after the flesh,”608    2 Cor. v. 16. yet He Who rejoices in the love of the Church is stoned by the impiety of the Arians.

123. “The law of Thy mouth, O Lord, is good unto me, I keep Thy commandments.”609    Ps. cxix. [cxviii.] 72, 73. Thou hast Thyself said that Thou art one with the Father. Because Peter believed this, he received the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and without anxiety for himself forgave sins. Judas, because he believed not this, strangled himself with the cord of his own wickedness. O the hard stones of unbelieving words! O the unseemly cord of the betrayer, and the still more hideous purchase-money of the Jews! O hateful money wherewith either the just is bought for death, or sold! Joseph was sold, Jesus Christ was bought, the one to slavery, the Other to death. O detestable inheritance, O deadly sale, which either sells a brother to suffering or sets a price on the Lord to destroy Him, the Purchaser of the salvation of all.

124. The Jews did violence to two things which are chief of all, faith and duty, and in each to Christ the Author of faith and duty. For both in the patriarch Joseph was there a type of Christ, and Christ Himself came in the truth of His Body, “Who counted it not robbery that He should be equal with God, but took on Him the form of a servant,”610    Phil. ii. 6, 7. because of our fall, that is to say, taking slavery upon Himself and not shrinking from suffering.

125. In one place the sale is for twenty pieces, in the other for thirty. For how could His true price be apprehended, Whose value cannot be limited? There is error in the price because there is error in the inquiry. The sale is for twenty pieces in the Old Testament, for thirty in the New; for the Truth is of more value than the type, Grace is more generous than training, the Presence is better than the Law, for the Law promised the Coming, the Coming fulfilled the Law.

126. The Ishmaelites made their purchase for twenty pieces, the Jews for thirty. And this is no trivial figure. The faithless are more lavish for iniquity than the faithful for salvation. It is, however, fitting to consider the quality of each agreement. Twenty pieces are the price of him sold to slavery, thirty pieces of Him delivered to the Cross. For although the Mysteries of the Incarnation and of the Passion must be in like manner matters of amazement, yet the fulfilment of faith is in the Mystery of the Passion. I do not indeed value less the birth from the holy Virgin, but I receive even more gratefully the Mystery of the sacred Body. What is more full of mercy than that He should forgive me the wrongs done to Himself? But it is even fuller measure that He gave us so great a gift, that He Who was not to die because He was God, should die by our death, that we might live by His Spirit.

127. Lastly, it was not without meaning that Judas Iscariot valued that ointment at three hundred pence, which seems certainly by the statement of the price itself to set forth the Lord’s cross. Whence, too, the Lord says: “For she, pouring this ointment on My body, did it for My burial.”611    S. Matt. xxvi. 12. Why, then, did Judas value this at so high a rate? Because remission of sins is of more value to sinners, and forgiveness seems to be more precious. Lastly, you find it written: “To whom much is forgiven the same loveth more.”612    S. Luke vii. 47. Therefore sinners themselves also confess the grace of the Lord’s Passion which they have lost, and they bear witness to Christ who persecuted Him.

128. Or because, “into a malicious soul wisdom does not enter,”613    Wisd. i. 4. the evil disposition of the traitor uttered this, and he valued the suffering of the Lord’s body at a dearer rate, that by the immensity of the price he might draw all away from the faith. And therefore the Lord offered Himself without price, that the necessity of poverty might hold no one back from Christ. The patriarchs sold Him for a small price that all might buy. Isaiah said: “Ye that have no money go buy and drink; eat ye without money,”614    Isa. lv. 1. that he might gain him who had no money. O traitor Judas, thou valuest the ointment of His Passion at three hundred pence, and sellest His Passion for thirty pence.615    St. Ambrose is not quite accurate here in his proportions, though the point is in itself immaterial. The denarius, or “penny,” was worth about ninepence, and was the day wage of a labourer; the shekel or “piece of silver,” was worth more, being of the value of four denarii. Thirty shekels was the price of a slave. Profuse in valuing, mean in selling.

129. So, then, all do not buy Christ at the same price; Photinus, who buys Him for death, buys Him at one price; the Arian, who buys Him to wrong Him, at another price; the Catholic, who buys Him to glorify Him, at another. But he buys Him without money according to that which is written: “He that hath no money let him buy without price.”616    Isa. lv. 1, 2.

130. “Not all,” says Christ, “that say unto Me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven!”617    S. Matt. vii. 21. Although many call themselves Christians, and make use of the name, yet not all shall receive the reward. Both Cain offered sacrifice, and Judas received the kiss, but it was said to him, “Judas, betrayest thou the Son of Man with a kiss?”618    S. Luke xxii. 48. that is, thou fillest up thy wickedness with the pledge of affection, and sowest hatred with the implement of peace, and inflictest death with the outward token of love.

131. Let not, then, the Arians flatter themselves with the employment of the name, because they call themselves Christians. The Lord will answer them: You set forward My Name, and deny My Substance, but I do not recognize My Name where My eternal Godhead is not. That is not My Name which is divided from the Father, and separated from the Spirit; I do not recognize My Name where I do not recognize My doctrine; I do not recognize My Name where I do not recognize My Spirit. For he knows not that he is comparing the Spirit of the Father to those servants whom He created. Concerning which point we have already spoken at length.619    Book I. 1.

690 CAPUT XVII.

Ubi ad intelligentiam verborum Domini loca, in quibus verba illa dicta fuerint, juvare exemplis ostendit Ambrosius, Christum sententiam ex Joanne citatam locutum esse in porticu Salomonis, per quam sapientis anima significatur, docet; eum enim haec in corde stulti aut turbulenti negat fuisse prolaturum, et quamobrem. Addit ab iis qui fidem non habeant iisdem verbis, Christum lapidari: et quemadmodum Petro, quod illa sit confessus, claves coeli datae fuerunt; ita Iscariotem, quod haec ipsa non crediderit, male periisse. Per hanc occasionem in Judaeos, qui Dei Filium emerunt, ac vendiderunt Josephum, invehitur. 0804D Mystice utriusque pretia edisserit; ac murmure proditoris de unguento Magdalenae eadem ratione exposito, subjicit alio modo Christum emi ab haereticis, alio a catholicis, illosque nequicquam sibi nomen usurpare christianorum, si Spiritum a Patre diviserint.

0805A 118. Refert itaque advertere quo loci haec Dominus disputaverit; frequenter enim ejus oracula ex locorum in quibus diversatus est, qualitatibus aestimantur. Jejunaturus, ab Spiritu, sicut legimus (Matth. IV, 1), ducitur in desertum, ut evacuaret diaboli tentamenta. Nam etsi in abundantia copiarum contineater vixisse laudandum est; tamen in divitiis et amoenitatibus frequentior tentationis illecebra est. Denique tentator ut tentet, copias pollicetar: et Dominus ut vincat, famem nutrit. Nec ego diffiteor in divitiis esse posse continentiam: sed etsi qui mare navigat, frequenter evadit; magis tamen obnoxius est periculo, quam qui navigare noluerit.

119. Videamus caetera. Promissurus regnum coelorum Jesus montem ascendit (Matth. V, 1). Alibi 0805B per sata ducit discipulos (Matth. XII, 1), seminaturus in eorum affectibus coelestium segetem praeceptorum; ut messis animorum fecunda flavesceret. Consummaturus susceptae carnis officia, cum perfectionem in discipulis jam videret, quos verborum suorum radice fundaverat, hortum ingreditur (Joan. XVIII, 1), ut olearum novellas in domo Domini plantaret, et justum palmae florentem modo, vitemque fecundam rivo sui sanguinis irrigaret (Psal. CXXVII, 3).

120. Hoc quoque loco in porticu Salomonis deambulabat dedicationis, ut legimus (Joan. X, 23), die, hoc est, in pectore sapientis atque pacifici deambulabat Christus, ejus sibi dedicaturus affectum. Quae ista porticus sit, docet Propheta dicens: Deambulabam in innocentia cordis mei in medio domus tuae 0805C (Psal. C, 2). Habemus ergo in nobis domum Dei, habemus atria, habemus et porticus, habemus et plateas; quia scriptum est: Inque plateis tuis superfluant aquae tuae (Prov. V, 16). Dilata ergo hanc porticum tui cordis Dei Verbo, quod tibi dicit: Dilata os tuum et adimplebo illud (Psal. LX, 11).

121. Ergo deambulans in corde sapientis 691 atque pacifici Dei Verbum, audiamus quid loquatur: Ego et Pater unum sumus (Joan. X, 30). Non dicet hoc in pectore perturbatoris et stulti; quia Animalis homo non percipit quae sunt Spiritus Dei; stultitia enim illi est (I Cor. II, 14). Non capiunt fidei magnitudinem angusta impiorum pectora. Denique Judaei audientes: Ego et Pater unum sumus; tulerunt lapides, ut lapidarent eum (Joan. X, 31).

0805D 122. Qui hoc audire non potest, Judaeus est: qui hoc audire non potest, lapidat Christum asperioribus omni caure perfidiae suae saxis; et si mihi creditis, vulnerat Christum. Nam etsi ille jam nunc vulnus sentire non possit: Nunc enim secundum carnem jam non novimus Christum (II Cor. V, 16); tamen Arianorum impietate lapidatur, qui Ecclesiae pietate laetatur.

0806A 123. Bonum mihi est, Domine, lex oris tui (Psal. CXVIII, 72); servo praeceptum tuum. Unum te esse cum Patre ipse dixisti. Quia hoc credidit Petrus, claves regni coelorum accepit (Matth. XVI, 19), et sui securus peccata donavit; quia hoc non credidit Judas, impietatis suae se laqueo strangulavit (Matth. XXVII, 5). O dura infidelium saxa verborum! O informem laqueum proditoris, sed deformius pretium Judaeorum! O argentum improbum, quo aut emitur ad necem justus, aut venditur! Joseph venditus (Gen. XXXVII, 28), emptus Jesus Christus (Matth. XXVI, 15): alter ad servitutem, alter ad mortem. Detestabilis haereditas, feralis auctio, quae aut fratrem vendit injuriae, aut Dominum licitatur exitio, salutis omnium redemptorem.

0806B 124. Duo igitur quae praestantiora sunt omnibus, Judaea violavit, fidem atque pietatem; sed in utroque Christum fidei et pietatis auctorem. Nam et in patriarcha Joseph typus Christi fuit, et in veritate sui corporis Christus: Qui non rapinam arbitratus est esse se aequalem Deo, sed formam servi accepit (Phil. II, 6, 7); propter lapsus videlicet nostros suscipiens servitutem, nec refugiens passionem.

125. Alibi viginti aureis emitur, alibi triginta. Quomodo enim poterat verum ejus pretium comprehendi, cujus non potest meritum definiri? Erratur in pretio, quia erratur in studio. Viginti aureis in veteri Testamento venditur, triginta in Evangelio; pretiosior enim typo veritas, largior gratia, quam disciplina: opimior Lege praesentia; quia Lex promisit 0806C adventum, Legem adventus implevit.

126. Viginti aureis emunt Ismaelitae, triginta Judaei. Nec hic figura mediocris. Ad sacrilegium perfidi largiores, quam ad salutem fideles sunt. Utriusque tamen contractus considerare convenit qualitatem. Viginti aurei pretium servitutis, triginta aurei crucis sunt. Quamvis enim simili modo assumptionis et passionis sint admiranda mysteria; plenitudo tamen fidei in sacramento est passionis. Non minoris quidem aestimo sanctae Virginis partum: sed gratius sumo benedicti corporis sacramentum. Quid clementius quam quod mihi suas donavit injurias? 692 Plenius tamen est, quod tantum contulit nobis; ut qui moriturus non erat, quia Deus erat; nostra ille morte moreretur, ut nos ejus Spiritu viveremus.

0806D 127. Denique non otiose et Judas Iscarioth unguentum illud trecentis denariis aestimavit (Joan. XII, 5): quod utique ipsius pretii definitione crucem videretur Domini declarare. Unde et Dominus ait: Haec enim mittens hoc unguentum in corpus meum, ad sepeliendum me fecit (Matth. XXVI, 12). Cur igitur Judas hoc charius aestimavit? Quia peccatoribus pluris 0807A constat remissio peccatorum, et indulgentia videtur esse pretiosior. Denique habes scriptum: Quia cui multum dimittitur, plus diligit (Luc. VII, 47). Ergo et ipsi peccatores Dominicae passionis, quam perdiderunt, gratiam confitentur, et testimonium ferunt Christo, qui Christum sunt persecuti.

128. Aut quia in malevolam animam non intrat sapientia (Sap. I, 4); etiam hoc loquebatur proditoris affectus, charius aestimabat Dominici corporis passionem; ut omnes a fide pretii enormitate revocaret. Ideoque Dominus gratis se obtulit, ne quem revocaret a Christo paupertatis necessitas. Patriarchae eum vili vendiderunt, ut omnes emerent. Esaias dixit: Quicumque non habetis argentum , ite, emite, et bibite: manducate sine argento (Esa. LV, 1); ut 0807B eum acquireret, qui non habebat argentum. O Juda proditor, unguentum passionis ejus trecentis denariis aestimas, et passionem ejus triginta denariis vendis (Matth. XXVI, 15)! Dives in aestimatione, vilis in scelere.

129. Ergo non omnes eodem pretio emunt Christum. Alio emit Photinus, qui ad mortem emit: alio Arianus, qui emit ad injuriam: alio catholicus, qui emit ad gloriam. Sed emit sine pecunia, secundum quod scriptum est: Qui non habet pecuniam, emat sine pretio (Esai. LV, 1).

130. Non omnes, inquit, qui dicunt mihi, Domine, Domine, intrabunt in regnum coelorum (Matth. VII, 21). Etsi multi se nominent christianos, nomen usurpant, non tamen omnes mercedem habent. Et 0807C Cain obtulit sacrificium (Gen. IV, 3), et Judas accepit osculum (Luc. XXII, 48), sed audivit: Juda, osculo Filium hominis tradis? hoc est, amoris pignore scelus imples, ac pacis instrumento odia seris, et charitatis officio mortem irrogas.

131. Ergo nec Ariani sibi usurpato nomine blandiantur, quia christianos esse se dicunt. Respondebit eis Dominus: Nomen meum praetenditis, et substantiam denegatis: sed non agnosco nomen meum, ubi non est mea sempiterna divinitas. Non est nomen meum, quod a Patre dividitur, ab Spiritu separatur: non agnosco nomen meum, ubi non agnosco doctrinam meam: non agnosco nomen meum, ubi non agnosco Spiritum meum. Nescit enim se Spiritus Patris comparare servitiis, quae creavit. De quo 0807D multa jam diximus (Lib. I, cap. 1 et seq.).